August 29: Sublime Intimacy

In my kitchen is a shadow box picture of a bird eating out of a person's hand. Painted on the glass is a profound saying: "FAITH is not belief without proof, but trust without reservations."

Let me tell you a story that illustrates today's lesson. When Jerald was offered a job at UTM, everyone we knew said that we were crazy. Since we were about to leave on a brief vacation, and my parents were going to keep the girls, ages 1 and 4, Jerald had come to UTM to visit old professors while we waited for my mom to get off work. He found that the communications department desparately need a slot filled since one of their teachers had just found out he had brain cancer. Not only was it just two weeks until classes began, but this would just be a one-year temporary assignment.

At the time, Jerald was working as the in-house attorney for Jimmy Swaggart, a television evangelist, making $45,00/year. Although many members of our family also worked there, Jerald was not happy and felt something wasn't right. The UTM offer was $22,000/yr, a 58% paycut, and they wouldn't even pay moving expenses. Complicating things even further, during the week we had to make the decision, Jennifer started showing symptoms of a serious medical problem that would not be diagnosed until after we had to let UTM know about the job. Changing insurance at this point could possibly leave her uninsurable. Adding to the dilemma, the Swaggarts offered Jerald a $15,000 raise and a company car if he would stay. Even his family, who are ministers, thought it would be insane to make a move under these circumstances.

Every ounce of common sense said we should stay where we were, but both of us felt a compelling urge to accept the job in faith. Jerald left the next week, leaving me behind for six weeks to pack alone. Because we had a $1,100 house payment on a house that didn't sell for a year, we got into a lot of debt, running out of money by the third week of every month. Again, common sense dictated that I put the girls in day care and get a job, but we felt strongly impressed that I should continue to be a stay-at-home mom.

BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL! The next February, Jimmy Swaggart was involved in a national scandal, and Jerald would have had to be the one on national TV handling the PR. Knowing what a man of integrity that he is, information that came out three days later would have caused him to resign, leaving us with no job at all. Believe me, a 58% paycut is a whole lot better than a 100% paycut!!

Yes, we had to struggle at first, but our house sold one year later, and God miraculously blessed us financially after that. And, most importantly, we know this is the place we needed to be. Jerald loves his jobs, the girls have had a stable school/church/community environment in which to grow up, and I have been blessed with a multitude of children around me to love.

I shudder to think what would have happened to all of us if we had obeyed the voice of reason rather than the voice of God.

Jesus, just remembering this event from our past makes me cherish You all the more. Thank You! Please help all the children of my heart to have the courage to follow Your voice, even when all the other loud voices are clamouring for them to do something else. Bless them as they walk with You by faith.